Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Suggestions on Dell Optiplex 980 SFF video cards?

Tags:
  • Gaming
  • Power Supplies
  • Optiplex
  • Dell
  • Graphics
  • Graphics Cards
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
April 29, 2014 1:17:17 AM

I recently picked up one of these with the i5-650 cpu and would like to upgrade graphics for gaming (specifically Planetside 2 and Diablo3) This only has a 235 watt rated PSU and I'm certain it will only fit a single slot, low profile card in there. Given these limits... anyone know whats the most powerful card I can stuff in there? I was hoping for a R7-250 or 7750 but they seem to require a bigger power supply than I have.

(Just found a tech document with more specific limitations. The 12 vdc bus is rated for 17 amps and the size must be less than 6.6" by 2.7"

More about : suggestions dell optiplex 980 sff video cards

a b 4 Gaming
a c 78 ) Power supply
a c 341 U Graphics card
April 29, 2014 2:53:09 AM

Hi and welcome to the forums!

no decent card will run with your PSU, I suggest getting a Corsair CX 430 and an ATI Radeon HD 7770, best card for the price right now.

Power Supply; $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Graphics card; MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

This is as good as your going to get for the price, though it's around $155, it's a very good upgrade for the price.
m
0
l
April 29, 2014 7:18:36 PM

Appreciate the suggestion but there is no way a full size PSU will fit in this case. I have a 550 watt PSU left over from an upgrade to my mid-tower FX-6300 cpu when I bought a Radeon 7790 card with the separate 6 pin power plug on the card. I may be able to bolt it into place, but it is twice the size of the Dell PSU.

I just wanted to see if I can get this older computer up to speed so the boys can play together (not fight over whose turn it is) but the HD2300 card currently installed doesn't even meet minimums for Planetside2.

I think I'll go from here to search out what style/type power supply will fit in that SFF case by dell b/c I'm not finding any cards worth the money. As a worst case senario... I'll just leave it as it for use as a homework/media station.

m
0
l
Related resources
a b 4 Gaming
a c 78 ) Power supply
a c 341 U Graphics card
April 29, 2014 11:10:32 PM

this computer may not even be worth upgrading, as a small factor PSU is becoming harder to find as the most common is standard ATX.
m
0
l
April 30, 2014 1:27:50 AM

Hah!

Found my old HD 5450 (the one i replaced with a 7790) and discovered that now all I need is a low profile bracket. This one is low profile except it has a full height bracket and the only thing attached to the upper half of the bracket is the standard VGA connection on a ribbon to the card. I know this will run Diablo 3 and even Planetside 2. It wont be pretty... effects toned down, shadows off, etc. Thats why I replaced it in the other system.

Yay for the junk box of old computer parts!! btw.. any one need a 40GB ide hard drive cause I found like 3 of them in there. no idea what's on them. Maybe I'll hook them up and see.
m
0
l
April 30, 2014 1:30:59 AM

unknownofprob said:
this computer may not even be worth upgrading, as a small factor PSU is becoming harder to find as the most common is standard ATX.


I had exactly zero luck finding anything but the stock 235 watt PSU that would fit in there. Also came across many posts where folks claimed issues with proprietary connections to the MOBO and they were unable use alternate manufacturers products.
m
0
l
a b 4 Gaming
a c 78 ) Power supply
a c 341 U Graphics card
April 30, 2014 2:01:17 AM

I am also aware that manufacturers have special pin connections on the motherboards that prevent a PSU upgrade, even if you do find a new PSU, it won't work anyways.
m
0
l
July 24, 2014 10:00:29 AM

Been researching this for quite a bit. I just ordered an R7 240 2GB video card. I'll let you know how it goes.

I also just purchased a cheap Optiplex 980 with a quad i7 at 2.9 GHz for a steam box.

I also own a desktop CORE i5 QUAD 3.0GHz w/ EVO 128 SSD w/ Sapphire Radeon 6670 Ultimate which is also a modestly priced card low-power card. It runs Dota2 and my flight sims great!

Looking at the video card ratings, my Sapphire is pretty darn close in performance to the Radeon R7 240, and has about 1/3 less the power rating. The R7 looks like it will fit nicely in the tight case and should performs just as well According to TH.

Let's see if the PSU on the 980 can keep up with the i7 and this new video card. I hope it fits too!

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Sapphire-Radeon-HD-6670-vs-Rade...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CLPzxZ...
m
0
l
July 28, 2014 8:07:41 AM

This is a follow up.

I installed the card yesterday and it fit inside like a glove. You would probably think it's stock since it fits in the case so well. It runs all my apps great, makes my Win7(64) PC snappy and even ran it through a few rounds of DOTA2 without issues without a hick-up. FYI I had to tone the DOTA settings to Mid+ as it was way too way sluggish at Max.

Well I prefer this 110x over the old stock Radeon card. I just wish it had just a bit more punch but for the wattage. But for the ease and wattage I'll stick with it. Also I can overclock it a bit later. I'll also add an 128G EVO SSD and see if it takes off. This card and a fast i5 (like your 3.2 GHz i5 650) would definitely run Planet Side 2 and Diablo btw.

If you can find a card that fits this easy, and provides a bit more video punch and won't crap out your PC due to the wattage, I'd pass on the R7 240 (but it's unlikely). I'll be sticking to this card (I'll overclock the card just a hair) and stick in SSD card.
m
0
l
!